The University of Rhode Island is embarking on an ambitious plan to hire 55 new faculty members over the next four years to support the university’s core missions of teaching, research and engagement.

URI President David Dooley said URI will invest about $5.3 million to establish these new positions. Money to support this investment in teaching and research will come from within the university’s operating budget.

Is Rhode Island government finally waking up to leveraging state colleges as wellsprings of economic development? RIPR political analyst Scott MacKay sees some hopeful signs on Smith Hill.

After years of malign neglect of Rhode Island’s public colleges and universities, the General Assembly finally appears to be turning a corner. Several elements in the state budget approved last week by the House Finance Committee show that Statehouse politicians are finally getting the message on the iron link between education and creating jobs in the Ocean State.

University of Rhode Island officials have announced they plan to arm campus police, despite vocal critics, who say the change will not make campus safer.

The university announced the decision after a year of public meetings and discussions with faculty, students and staff. In a statement, URI President David Dooley called the change critical.

"In order to provide the safest environment possible and to ensure a timely response to any threat to the safety of our campuses, our police officers must be equipped properly to function as first responders,” Dooley said.